The Significance of Gratitude in the Works of Early Sufis

Abstract

This article examines the significance of shukr (gratitude) in the works of the earliest Sufi thinkers and its role in the spiritual and ethical formation of Islamic mysticism. Drawing upon foundational sources of early Sufism namely the works of Kalabadhi, Sarraj, and Qushayri the study explores shukr as a multidimensional concept encompassing the acknowledgment of divine blessings by the heart, their praise through the tongue, and the practical expression of gratitude through righteous actions. The article demonstrates that early Sufi tradition views shukr as a continuous spiritual cycle in which gratitude increases divine blessings, and the blessings, in turn, deepen gratitude. Furthermore, shukr is presented not only as a form of devotion to God but also as an essential moral principle within human social conduct.